Vegetarian and vegan quick guide
Where to eat — village to south beach
| Restaurant | Area | Price | Type | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tip Samet | Village | $ | Veggie-friendly | Map |
| Banana Bar | Village | $ | Veggie-friendly | Map |
| Flow Beach Café | Beach strip | $$ | Vegan menu | Map |
| Samet Villa Resort | Ao Phai | $$ | Veggie-friendly | Map |
| Tub Tim Resort | Ao Tub Tim | $$ | Veggie-friendly | Map |
| Noina’s Kitchen | Ao Tub Tim – Ao Nuan | $$ | Vegan menu | Map |
| Scoop Garden | Hat Sai Kaew | $ | Sorbet only | Map |
Vegetarian and vegan food on Koh Samet
Finding good vegetarian food on a Thai island is easier than most people expect, and Koh Samet is no exception. The options range from dedicated vegetarian restaurants in the village to resort menus with solid plant-based sections – and one spot built into the rocks between two beaches that’s worth the walk on its own.
This guide runs roughly south from the village, which puts most places within easy reach if you’re staying near the pier.
Tip Samed
Best for: vegetarian sit-down meals, tofu dishes, mixed groups
Tip Samet is a proper restaurant, not a beach bar with a token veggie option. The menu has a dedicated vegetarian section and the kitchen knows what to do with tofu – the red curry with tofu and coconut milk is good enough that I went back the day after my first visit and ordered the tofu grapow. Both are around 80-100 baht and well worth it.
It works well for groups where not everyone eats the same way. The meat and seafood dishes are solid too, so nobody ends up compromising.
Vegan options: available on request
Location: village, main road
Price: $
Vegetarian menu: yes, dedicated section
Banana Bar
Best for: curries, mixed groups, a relaxed meal close to the pier
Banana Bar is a small, easy-going place on the main village road, about four minutes’ walk from The Cocoon. It does southern-style curries, fried dishes, and fresh salads – and unlike a lot of places that just pull the meat out and call it vegetarian, it has a proper dedicated vegetarian menu with several vegan options.
The owner is warm and attentive, which makes it a nicer experience than its modest appearance might suggest.
- Location: village, main road
- Price: $
- Vegetarian menu: yes, dedicated section
- Vegan options: several
Flow Beach Café
Best for: vegan meals by the beach, a long slow afternoon
Flow Beach Café sits on the beach strip and leans into its relaxed, unhurried atmosphere – hammocks, beanbags, lounge areas, table seating. The food is genuinely vegan-friendly rather than an afterthought: pizza, pancakes, bowls, and wraps all have plant-based options. Free wi-fi if you need it.
It’s a good option if you want to eat somewhere that takes the vegan menu seriously rather than just offering a green curry with tofu.
Vegan options: yes, substantial
Location: beach strip, Ao Phai road
Price: $$
Vegetarian menu: yes
Scoop Garden
Best for: vegan sorbet, escaping the heat
Scoop Garden isn’t a restaurant but it’s worth the detour. The sorbet is vegan and genuinely good – the kind of thing you find yourself thinking about on a hot afternoon. It’s set in a small garden near Winkks on Hat Sai Kaew, with air conditioning inside if you need to sit and cool down.
- Location: Hat Sai Kaew, near Winkks
- Price: $
- Vegan options: yes (sorbet)
Samet Villa Resort
Best for: a beachfront lunch with vegetarian options, no compromise on setting
Samet Villa is a beach resort restaurant rather than a dedicated vegetarian spot, but it has a proper vegetarian section on the menu and guests have recommended it to us specifically for plant-based eating. The setting – right on the beach – makes it worth knowing about even if the food isn’t the cheapest option in this area.
Pricing is mid-range for the island, cheaper than the bigger resorts further north.
- Location: Ao Phai
- Price: $$
- Vegetarian menu: yes, dedicated section
- Vegan options: confirm with staff
Tub Tim Resort
Best for: vegetarian lunch on a quieter beach
Tub Tim Resort’s restaurant sits at the southern end of Ao Tub Tim, one of the calmer beaches on the main strip. Like Samet Villa, it’s a resort restaurant with a vegetarian menu section rather than a fully plant-based kitchen – but guests have flagged it as a reliable option and the green curry here is a regular recommendation.
The beach itself is worth the walk regardless.
- Location: Ao Tub Tim
- Price: $$
- Vegetarian menu: yes
- Vegan options: confirm with staff
Noina’s Kitchen
Best for: a vegan meal with a genuinely memorable setting
I haven’t eaten at Noina’s Kitchen yet – it’s on the list – but guests have pointed us toward it enough times that it earns a spot here. It sits on the rocks between Ao Tub Tim and Ao Nuan, with a sea view that makes the walk worthwhile on its own. The vibe is earthy and low-key, the menu is vegan and continental, and mains are around 200 baht.
I’ll update this with a proper review once I’ve been. For now, worth knowing it exists.
- Location: between Ao Tub Tim and Ao Nuan
- Price: $$
- Vegetarian menu: fully vegetarian/vegan
- Vegan options: yes
Our honest take
Koh Samet isn’t a vegetarian destination, but it’s more accommodating than its reputation as a quiet beach island might suggest. The village has two genuinely good options in Tip Samet and Banana Bar. Flow Beach Café is the best bet if you want a vegan menu with a beach setting. And Noina’s Kitchen – once I’ve actually eaten there – may well be the most interesting spot on this list.
We’ll keep updating this as we work through more of the island’s menus. If you’re staying at The Cocoon, ask us – May usually has a more current read on what’s good than anything written down.
Planning a Trip to Koh Samet?
This article is part of our complete Koh Samet travel guide, written by local hosts. It brings together transport tips, the best beaches, where to stay, food and nightlife, and practical local advice to help you plan your trip with confidence.
